Air eliminator for liquid



July 19, 1932. R. E. BECHTOLD 1,863,444

AIR ELIMINATOR FOR LIQUID Filed Nov. 16, 1951 BY gjWTTOR/VEY.

Patented July 19, 1932.

which is a vertical section (UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REUBEN E. BECHTOLD, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO TOKHEIM OIL TANK AND PUIIP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA AIR ELIMINATOR roR LIQUID Application filed November 16, 1231. Serial Ho. 575,204.

Thi invention relates to improvements in an air eliminator for liquid dispensingaapparatus similar in character to that previously disclosed in Patent No. 1,826,30 issued to me October 6, 1931, for liquid dispensing apparatus, and particularly described in said patent under the caption The separator unit.

The object of the invention is to provide an appliance for connection with a liquid dispensing apparatus by which the liquid to be dispensed is relieved of any accumulation therein of air or gas that it may contain, due to agitation or otherwise, before finally being dispensed from the apparatus.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing thereof.

The structure shown in the drawing comprises a pump having a housing 1, rotors 2 and 3, a suction inlet 4 and discharge outlet 5, the rotor 2 having a drive-shaft 6 provided with a drlve-pulley 7 therefor. The constructionof the pump may be of any suitable character capable of withdrawing liq uid from a source of supply (not shown) through a suction inlet and deliverin the liquid under pressure through a disc arge outlet. The pump shown in the drawing, being well known, is not herein described in detail.

In connection with the pump is arranged a case 8 having a partition- 9 disposed transv versely therein so as to provide a receiving chamber 10 and an overflow or float chamber 11. A vent pipe 12 has communication with the overflow chamber 11 through the cover 13 of the case to permit free escapement of air therefrom. Also, the case has therein a return duct 14 and a drain opening 15 in the partition 9 through which the overflow chamber has communication with the suction inlet 4 of the pump.

Positioned upon the partition 9 over the opening 15 therein is a valve seat 16 normally closed by a drain valve 17 which is actuated by means of a float 18 pivotally supported upon a bracket 19 provided therefor, said float being disposed within the chamber 11 so I as to be afiected by the rise and fall of the liquid level in the overflow chamber 11 and ;with a stem 25 an of thereby open or close said drain valve 17vac-,

' drawn therefrom through the duct 14 into the suction inlet 4 of the pump.

In the partition 9 is secured a choke nipple 20 affording a restricted passageway tween the upper part of the receiving chamber 10 into the overflow chamber 11 through which air and a limited quantity of liquid escapes from the receiving chamber. The air passin through the nipple into the overflow chain er is finally eliminated through the vent ipe 12.

. In the ower end of the receiving chamber 10 is disposed a valve seat 21 through which said chamber has communication with an outlet duct 22 which is provided with a dispensing nozzle 23. The seat 21 is normally closed by a re lating valve 24: provided avin secured upon its upper end a piston hea 26 disposed within a piston chamber 27.

A compression spring 28 is positioned between the valve 24 and the lower head 29 of the piston chamber 2? which tends to hold said valve in closed position upon the seat 21. The upper head 30 of the piston chamber 27 is secured in the partition 9 and has in its top a restricted vent opening 31 that affords communication between said piston chamber and the overflow chamber 11 so as end thereof durin operation of the piston head 26 therein. he stem 25 of the re ulating valve extends loosely through the ower head 29 of the piston chamber 27, the opening therefor in said head being ample for the passage of air -or liquid between the lower end of said piston chamber and the rece1ving chamber suflicient to permit operation of said piston head according to the rise and b pressure within the, receiving cham- As. liquid enters the receiving chamber from the pump through the discharge outlet therefor, pressure is created thereby in the receiving chamber, which pressure acts upwardly upon said piston head 26, and when the pressure is sufiicient to overcome the resistance of the spring 28 the regulating valve 24 is raised from its seat thus permitting dispump. The said seat 32 is normally closed y a by-pass valve 33' provided with a stem 34 having upon its upper end a piston head 35 disposed within a piston chamber 36.

A compression spring 37 is positioned between said by-pass valve 33 and the lower head 38 of said piston chamber 36 which tends to hold said valve in closed position.

upon its seat 32. The upper head 39 of the piston chamber 36 is secured in the partition 9 and has in its top a restricted vent opening 40 that affords communication between said piston chamber and the float chamber 11 so as to relieve pressure or vacuum in the upper end of said piston chamber during operation of the piston head 35 therein. The stem 34 of the by-pass valve extends loosely through the lower head 38 of said piston chamber, the opening therefor in said head being ample for the passage of air or liquid between the lower end of the piston chamber and the receiving chamber sufficient to permit operation of said piston head according to the rise and fall of pressure within the receiving chamber.

When pressure is created in the receiving chamber because of entrance of liquid from the pump through its discharge outlet 5 the piston head 35 tends to move-upwardly, and when the pressure is sufficient to overcome the resistance of the spring 37 the by-pass valve is raised from its seat thus permitting liquid to be withdrawn from the receiving chamber into the suction inlet 4 for the pump.

The piston chambers 27 and 36 may be com veniently held in place in the partition 9 by means of a bar 41 that bears upon the corresponding heads 30 and 39 of said chambers which is secured to the partition by means of a screw 42.

The regulating valve 24 and the by-pass valve 33 are opened by pressure within the receiving chamber created by the flow of liquid thereinto from the pump, the opening of which valves takes place at different stages of pressure. The spring 37 for the hy-pass.

,valve 33 is of greater resistance than the s ring 28 for the regulating valve, and thus,-

t e re ating valve is automatically opened upon t e rise of pressure within the receiving chamber 10 in a vance of the opening of the by-pass valve. In this manner as liquid is supplied to the chamber by the pump, when the dispensingv valve 23 is open, a substantial body of the liquid accumulates in the receiving chamber 10 and its outflow through i nozz e 23.

When the dispensing nozzle 23 is closed and the pressure within the receiving chamber 10 is raised sufficiently, due to continued operation of the pump, the by-pa ss valve is automatically raised from its seat, whereupon the liquid is circulatedthrough the pump andreceiving chamber, thus stalling of the pump is prevented.

The regulating valve serves to prevent backflow of liquid from the outlet duct into the receivin chamber under normal operating conditions while pressure in the outlet duct is insufiicient to raise the regulating valve. However, any excess pressure, above normal, that may be occasioned by expansion of the liquid in the outlet duct causes the regulating valve to rise, whereupon the excess pressure is relieved by backflow of liquid from the outlet duct into the receivin her. The provision for backflow 0% is desirable especially when there is connected between the outlet duct and the nozzle an extension pipe or hose (not shown). of considerable length. The regulating valve chamliquid prevents the discharge line from becoming rained back through the outlet duct which provision is desirable especially when a liquid measuring appliance (not shown) is connected betwepn the outlet duct and the dispensnozz e.

in operation, the pump is connected with a source of supply 0 liquid (not shown) by means of a suction pipe 43, from which source liquid is drawn, upon operation of the pump, through the pipe and a screen 44 into the suction inlet 4 of the pum and thereafter is expelled through the discharge outlet 5 of the pump into the receiving chamber 10,

from whence the liquid accumulation in the receiving chamber is withdrawn through the dis ensing nozzle and the efiervescence is'expel ed separately through the choke nipple.

The passageway through the nipple'20 is of such size as to permit escape therethrough of all air accumulations from within the chamber 10, but restricted to'such extent as to permit escape therethroltigh of only a negligible volume of liquid. pon operation of the pump fluid is su plied to the chamber 10, preferably throu an extension 5' of the discharge outlet 5 0 said pump so that the fluid is delivered at a point in the chamber near the top thereof and agitation of the liquid content of the chamber is avoided. More or less pressure is created within the chamber because of the forced entrance thereinto of the fluid supplied by the pump which pressure is readily relieved by escape of air through the nipple. However, when the chamber is substantially filled with liquid the volume of the discharge through the nipple is greatly reduced as the liquid tends to choke the passageway therein, whereupon the pressure in the chamber is materially increased caus ing the regulating valve 24 to open which permits withdrawal of liquid from the chamher through the nozzle 23. Upon closing of the nozzle and .continued operation of the pump the pressure within the chamber 10 is raised further which causes the by-pass valve 33 to open and thus permit the liquid in the chamber to escape into the suction inlet of the pump.

Asthe vent o enings 31 and in the piston chambers 2 and 36 are restricted as to size passage of fluid therethrough is slow and consequently chattering of the valves is obviated.

I claim:

1. In an appliance of the class described, a pump, a case having a receiving chamber and an overflow chamber, the partition between said chambers being provided with a restricted passageway therethrough, said case having also a duct afi'ording communication between the overflow chamber and the suction inlet of said pump, a float-controlled valve mechanism in said overflow v chamber controlling said duct, an outlet duct including a dispensing valve having communication with said receiving chamber, a spring-restrained regulating valve controlling communication between the receiving chamber andsaid outlet duct actuated by pressure created within the receiving chamber, and a spring-restrained by-pass valve controlling communication between said receiving chamber and the suction inlet of said pump actuated by pressure created within said receiving chamber, said regulating valve being operable at a pressure comparatively lower than that required to operate said bypass valve.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a case having a receiving chamber and an overflow chamber and provided with a restricted passageway between said chambers, a pump the outlet of which communicates with said. recelvmg chamber and the suction inlet of which has communication with said overflow chamber, a float valve mechanism in said overflow chamber controlling communication between said float chamber and suction inlet of the pump, a spring-restrained byass valve controlled connection between sai receiving chamber and the suction inlet of the pump, and a spring-restrained regulating valve controlled discharge outlet for said receiving chamber, the va ves for said connection and outlet being actuated by ressure created within said receiving cham r, the valve for said outlet being operable at a lower pressure than that required to operate the valve for said connection.

, '3. In apparatus of the'class described, a case having receiving and overflow chambers provided with a restricted connecting passageway for the escape of efiervescence from the receiving chamber into said overflow chamber said receiving chamber having a liquid discharge outlet, a spring-pressed valve controllin said outlet, means in connection with sai valve operated by pressure created in the receiving chamber adapted to open said valve, means for supplyin liquid under pressure to said receiving c amber, and afloat operated valve controlled drain outlet for said overflow chamber.

4. In air eliminating means for a dispensing apparatus, a case having a receiving chamber provided with a discharge outlet and a vented overflow chamber provided with a drain outlet, there being a restricted passageway between said chambers for the escape of air from the receiving chamber into the overflow chamber, a float-valve controlling means in said overflow chamber for said drain outlet, a valve mechanism controlling the discharge outlet for the receivin chamber o erated by pressure created wit insaid cham r, and means for supplying liquid under pressure to said receiving chamber.

5. In air eliminating means or liquid dispensing apparatus, a supply pump, a chamer having connection with the outlet of said pump to receive liquid therefrom and provided with a discharge outlet, and also a bypass opening communicating with the suction inlet of said pump, a vented overflow chamber having a drain outlet and also a connection with said receiving chamber atfording a restricted passageway for the escape of air from the receiving chamber into said overflow chamber, a regulating valve for said discharge outlet, a by-pass valve control--- ling said by-pass opening, operating means for each of said valves actuated y pressure created in the receiving chamber so constituted that the valve for the discharge outlet is opened in advance of the opening of the pump to receive liquid therefrom and pro vided with a discharge outlet, and also a by-- by pressure created in the receiving chamber so constituted that the valve for the discharge outlet is opened in advance of the opening of the by-pass valve as pressure in thereceiving chamber is raised.

7. In air eliminating means for liquid dispensing apparatus, a pump, a receiving chamber connected with said pump and having a discharge outlet, a vented overflow chamber having a drain opening, there being a' restricted passageway for air between said chambers, a float operated valve controlling said opening, a regulating valve for said outlet, operating) means for said regulating valve actuated ually operated valve controlled nozzle for said discharge outlet.v

8. In air eliminating means for liquid dispensing apparatus, a pump, a receiving chamber connected with'said pump and havi'nga discharge outlet, an overflow chamber having a vent/and" adrain opening,;there being a restricted passageway for air be-. tween said chambers, a regulating valve for said outlet, operating means for said regulating valve actuated by pressure created in said receiving chamber by said pump, and a manually operated valve controlled nozzle for said discharge outlet.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a pump, a receiving chamber supplied with liquid by said pump, provided with a discharge outlet for liquid and a restricted opening for the escape of air therefrom, said receiving chamber being provided also with a bypass opening communicating with the suction inlet of said pump, two spring-restrained valves normally closing said discharge outlet and bypass opening respectively, and means for separately opening said valves by pressure created in the receiving chamber through action of said pump, the valve for the discharge outlet being operable at a comparatively lower pressure than that required to cause opening of the valve for the by-pass opening.

l0. lnapparatus of the class described, a liquid supply means, a receiving chamber connected with said means, provided with a discharge outlet for liquid and a restricted opening for the escape of air therefrom, a piston chamber one end of which has communication with said receiving chamber and the opposite end of which is vented externaly pressure created in said receiving chamber by sa1d pump, and a man- 1y of said receiving chamber, and a springprcssed regulating valve normally closing said discharge outlet and having a. piston head in connection therewith-in said piston chamber so that said valve is opened by the action of said piston by pressure created within said receiving chamber through action of said supply means.

11. In apparatus for separating air from liquid, a receiving chamber having an inlet and an outlet and also a restricted passageway for the escape of air therefrom, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said chamber, a valve mechanism controlling said outlet including a spring-pressed valve, and a piston chamber-provided with a piston head therein operatively connected with said valve and actuated by pressure created within said-receiving chamber, said piston chamber having a restricted vent opening in the upper end thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

REUBEN E. BECHTOLD. 

